The year 2023 was anything but ideal for the New York Metropolitans. After losing ace Jacob DeGrom and acquiring big-ticket starters Justin Verlander and Kodai Senga in the offseason, the New York Mets struggled with injuries and inconsistency to start the year. Before the trade deadline, they offloaded Verlander and starter Max Scherzer for prospects and parted ways with role players like outfielders Tommy Pham and Mark Canha.
The flurry of moves signaled an impending rebuild. Young players such as catcher Francisco Alvarez and infielders Mark Vientos, Ronny Mauricio and Brett Baty received ample playing time down the stretch as the Mets drifted to a 75-87 record and failed to reach the postseason.
Buck Showalter’s tenure as manager ended once the season concluded, setting the stage for a 2024 squad that could be “fun and frisky” under first-year skipper Carlos Mendoza.
The Lineup
New York’s lineup will maintain most of its core pieces. First baseman Pete Alonso, shortstop Francisco Lindor, outfielders Brandon Nimmo and Starling Marte and utility man Jeff McNeil will be joined by newly acquired designated hitter J.D. Martinez, who inked a one-year $12 million contract.
These more seasoned bats will have to be aided by younger contributors such as Alvarez (who slugged 25 home runs last year) and Brett Baty. Vientos will start the year in the minor leagues, and Mauricio will likely be out for the season due to a knee injury he suffered while playing in the Dominican Winter League. As a result, most of the Mets’ offensive burden will be on their veterans’ shoulders. New York will need to be better at the plate than they were a season ago. In 2023, they were below league average in terms of on-base percentage, slugging percentage and walks.
The Starting Rotation
The Mets’ starting rotation will be working from a deficit to start the season. Senga is working his way back from some shoulder discomfort that shut down the second-year starter last month, placing him on the injured list to start the season. He was efficient last year, posting a 12-7 record with a 2.98 ERA and a 10.9 SO9. The Mets do not know when he’ll be ready to return to the mound and, as a result, New York’s rotation will need to receive some surprise performances.
Jose Quintana will lead the rotation for the Mets this season after earning a 3.57 ERA last season across 75.2 innings. Newly acquired starters Luis Severino and Sean Manaea will ideally benefit from a change of scenery. Severino looks to shake off a poor final season with the Yankees and enter 2024 with renewed moxy. The righty ended last season with a 6.65 ERA, clearly losing his confidence. He was once considered one of the Yankees’ more reliable pitchers, but 2023 marked the end of his time in the Bronx.
Manaea’s recent track record is equally complicated. He has struggled to put together a truly stellar season, but after implementing a sweeper last year, he worked his way to a 4.44 ERA and 3.90 FIP with the San Francisco Giants.
Lesser known arms, Adrian Houser and Tylor Megill, will man the back end of the Mets’ rotation to start the season and try to prove that they deserve a permanent spot in Flushing.
The Bullpen
A sturdy bullpen goes a long way, and the Mets will finally get premier closer Edwin Diaz back in 2024 after he missed all of last season due to a torn patellar tendon suffered during the World Baseball Classic. The 30-year-old compiled 32 saves and a career-best 1.31 ERA in 2022. He’ll try to return to form and take on high-leverage innings.
Other bullpen pieces, such as Adam Ottavino, Brooks Raley and Drew Smith will return. It will be a particularly important year for Smith, who surrendered seven home runs last year and pitched to an unimpressive 4.15 ERA.
New additions like Jake Diekman and Jorge Lopez will also join the fray, hoping to lock down time in the middle innings.
The Verdict
The 2024 Mets are intriguing, although it is doubtful that fans will see the prospects the team received in exchange for Scherzer or Verlander last summer. Luisangel Acuna, Ryan Clifford and other reinforcements are on the way but are still developing and finding where they fit defensively.
As a result, New York figures to be as advertised this season: a work in progress. The high-powered Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies may both battle for the NL East crown, but the Mets could be a viable Wild Card team.
The addition of Martinez lengthens the lineup. Even still, the Mets will need their other veteran hitters to step up while the rotation gets healthy and the bullpen finds its form.
